UBF All-Americas Champion Lyle McDowell: I Can Beat Joey Dawejko
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In an exclusive interview with Real Combat Media, Universal Boxing Federation All-Americas Heavyweight champion Lyle McDowell called out heavyweights Joey Dawejko, Derric Rossy, and USBO titleholder Joshua Tufte.. McDowell, whose record includes a 12 round decision win over former World Heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick, stated Dawejko was the fighter he wanted most of all, and predicted he would knock Dawejko out. McDowell wants Dawejko and promoter Russell Peltz to know if Amir Mansour backs out of the planned bout with Joey Dawejko in May 2015, he wants to fight Dawejko.
A 42 bout heavyweight veteran, McDowell’s first telephone call to Real Combat Media came out of the blue, one day after Dawejko knocked out Enobong Umohette in the first round. Truth be told, McDowell beat up Umohette for three rounds this past November, a bout in which a battered Umohette gave up on his stool before the start of the fourth round. The damage done by McDowell was so brutal on Umohette, a winner of nine straight bouts, that Umohette had nothing left when he stepped into the ring with Dawejko, the main reason why McDowell is completely unimpressed with Dawejko’s recent win streak.
McDowell, 45, now 28-13-1 with nineteen knockouts, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has beaten all ten of the opponents he has faced in Milwaukee. According to McDowell, whose record also includes knockout wins over 22-0 Keith McKnight and over former National Golden Gloves champion Michael Arms, his defeats were due to taking last minute bouts over the years while weighing 300 pounds. Now weighing 238 pounds, and going down to a gradual 232 pounds while back in the gym on a daily basis, McDowell feels Dawejko can be beaten.
Real Combat Media: “When is your next scheduled bout?”
Lyle McDowell: “April 17, 2015, in Milwaukee.”
Real Combat Media: “You called out of the blue and called out Joey Dawejko. Why do you feel you can beat Joey Dawejko?”
Lyle McDowell: “I have better punching power. I’m more experienced. I’m left handed.”
Lyle McDowell: “I have better punching power than Joey Dawejko. I am a more experienced boxer than Joey Dawejko. I am (also) a left handed boxer.”
Real Combat Media: “You currently hold the Universal Boxing Federation All-Americas Heavyweight title. Are you intending to defend your UBF title against Dawejko, and if so, for how many rounds would your bout with Dawejko be if you received the opportunity?”
Lyle McDowell: “Dawejko would be a 10 round UBF All-America title defense for me.”
Real Combat Media: “Almost five years after your career ended with a seventh round stoppage loss to Umohette, you returned to the ring for a rematch with him. Why?”
Lyle McDowell: “Umohette gave me the rematch thinking he would get some work in. He thought I was the same Lyle McDowell he fought before. I took the rematch with Umohette on six weeks of notice after being off for five years, and I lost weight. I was 300 pounds going down to 238 pounds.”
Real Combat Media: “After the rematch with Umohette last November, have you stayed in the gym?”
Lyle McDowell: “Absolutely. I’ve rededicated myself to boxing, just taking it seriously, training hard, eating right, loving the (boxing) game like it should be. I am an old veteran. What you get out of boxing is what you put it.”
Real Combat Media: “Do Joey Dawejko’s four consecutive first round knockouts impress you?”
Lyle McDowell: “I think Joey Dawejko is fighting bums. No, Dawejko does not impress me. Umohette is a bum also.”
Real Combat Media: “What do you think of Joey Dawejko as a fighter?”
Lyle McDowell: “I think Joey Dawejko is a blown up heavyweight. I don’t think he’s a bum. I think Dawejko is a nice skilled fighter. Nonetheless I have too much experience for him. I’m the real deal.”
Real Combat Media: “You defeated the late former World Heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick by split decision in Alberta, Canada, over 12 rounds. Berbick, as well know, defeated Muhammad Ali. Tell about your victory over Berbick for the International Boxing Organization Inter-Continental Heavyweight title.”
Lyle McDowell: “When I fought Trevor Berbick, I was at the point I am at now. I trained for Berbick seriously, fought him seriously and just outpointed him. I fought a smart fight when I beat Berbick, and I enjoyed it.”
Real Combat Media: “You lost bouts with Bermane Stiverne, Malik Scott, Samuel Peter, and Raphael Butler. Were these short notice bouts for which you were unprepared?”
Lyle McDowell: “I took all of those bouts on one week’s notice, when I was not in the gym at all. I weighed almost 300 pounds for those bouts.”
Real Combat Media: “What is your weight now?”
Lyle McDowell: “I weighed 238 pounds for my last bout. I am at 239, 240, 241 pounds now. I stayed in the gym.”
Real Combat Media: “What was your weight for your fight with Trevor Berbick? What weight would you fight Joey Dawejko at?”
Lyle McDowell: “I weighed 238 pounds for the Trevor Berbick bout. I would fight Joey Dawejko at about 232 pounds if given the opportunity.”
Real Combat Media: “During your career, you destroyed 22-0 Keith McKnight, who appeared to be a rising contender. How did you accomplish it?”
Lyle McDowell: “Keith McKnight was another fight I took on three weeks of notice, but I dedicated myself in those three weeks, and I knocked McKnight out. As for McKnight’s undefeated 22-0 padded record, McKnight fought a lot of bums too. I exposed him.”
Real Combat Media: “You also knocked out the National Golden Gloves Heavy weight champion, Michael Arms. How did that bout end the way it did?”
Lyle McDowell: “Michael Arms thought he was gonna knock me off. At the time, I had a Muhammad Ali style. A lot of jabs thrown, a lot of hooks, while trying to be fast, trying to be elusive. I was on my toes a lot at that time, and I was hard to hit. Michael Arms was (by that time) an old man. He had no business being in the ring with me. Instead, I knocked him out for the count, and ended his career.”
Real Combat Media: “How do you propose to defeat Joey Dawejko?”
Lyle McDowell: “I will defeat Joey Dawejko, Derric Rossy, and USBO champion Joshua Tuffy with my fighting style, all in the same way. Any of them is fine with me.”
Real Combat Media: “Can you knock Joey Dawejko out?”
Lyle McDowell: “I will knock all three of them out.”
Real Combat Media: “Is your age a barrier?”
Lyle McDowell: “Amir Mansour, who Joey Dawejko wants to fight, is almost 43 years old. The great Antonio Tarver, who is ranked fifth in the world among heavyweights, is 46 years old.”
Real Combat Media: What do you want to say to Joey Dawejko?”
Lyle McDowell: “If Joey Dawejko is scared, he should go to church!”
Real Combat Media: “Anything else you want to say about your boxing career?”
Lyle McDowell: “You know what they say about your last fight? I won my last fight. Umohette quit I beat him so bad. I am more dedicated, more relaxed and smart. I hit hard. I still have my senses and speed. It has all come together. I am more experienced now.”
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